Readers say Blanchard Road has worst potholes

Morning Sun readers have declared Blanchard Road between Winn and Coldwater roads to be the worst in Isabella County in terms of potholes.

While that area came in first with 44 votes on the newspaperís Facebook page, Vernon Road in the Rosebush area was a close second, with 37 votes.

Third place went to Wise Road between Pleasant Valley and Coe roads, with 20 votes, followed by Weidman Road from Isabella to Lincoln, with 17 votes.

Readers also cast 15 votes for Meridian Road between M-20 and Bluegrass Road, and five Facebook followers said every road driven instead of M-20 is awful.

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Three people voted for ďall of the above,Ē and five chose Lincoln Road north of Jordan Road.

Other areas that Facebook voters mentioned included Lincoln and Deerfield roads, Wise Road from County Line to Wing, Genuine Road between Blanchard and Pleasant Valley, Winn Road south of Coleman Road, and Deerfield Road between Whiteville and Crawford roads.

East Coral Road near McBride in Montcalm County also made the list, as did East River Road from Winn Road to Meridian.

With spring being the season for potholes, Isabella County Road Commission Manager Tony Casali said recent long, drawn out conditions and freeze-thaw cycle has wreaked havoc on roadways in mid-Michigan.

Crews in Isabella County have been working overtime on an emergency basis to repair potholes, but were having difficulty keeping up with the breaking roadways.

Gravel roads are also a mess this spring, with rain softening surfaces, making ruts and holes a given.

With gravel roads, Casali said, drivers can do little but wait for them to dry out.

Keeping both paved and gravel roads in good condition isnít easy, according to the County Road Association of Michigan, a trade group that represents county road agencies, including autonomous road commissions and county-run public works departments.

Michiganís road network as a whole is facing challenges, with county roads and state trunk lines being at least 50 years old, according to Monica Ware, spokeswoman for the association.

Making matters worse is revenues decreasing in Isabella County.

Casali said revenues are down 20 percent, and that the road commissionís workforce has decreased by 40 percent.

Meanwhile, traffic is increasing, driven by growth at Central Michigan University and an increase in mid-Michiganís tourism business.

(Susan Field can be reached at 989-779-6075, sfield@michigannewspapers.com or follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/#!/susan.k.field.)